ASEAN and the world

After a series of eruptions earlier this week that forced thousands to evacuate, Mount Ruang in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, continued to emit ash on April 19 afternoon.

Thailand and New Zealand on April 17 agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership by 2026, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

(CPV) - The Philippine economy is expected to post faster growth this year and the next on the back of slowing inflation, stronger and broad-based domestic demand, and higher public investment, according to a new report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on April 11th 2024.

(CPV) - Developing economies in Asia and the Pacific are forecast to expand by 4.9% on average this year as the region continues its resilient growth amid robust domestic demand, improving semiconductor exports, and recovering tourism.

The Ministry of Public Security of Laos will deploy more than 700 traffic police officers to over 100 intersections across the capital Vientiane to ensure road safety during the Lao New Year celebration, Bunpimay festival, in mid-April.

Authorities of the Cambodian capital city have issued a directive urging tourists to respect traffic laws during the upcoming traditional Khmer New Year, Chol Chnam Thmey.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to launch an ASEAN Climate Finance Policy Platform, which will support Southeast Asian finance ministry leaders in advancing collective action in the battle against climate change, ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa announced on the early of April.

Head of the National Food Agency of Indonesia (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said on April 4 that the rice assistance programme for citizens is progressing positively, contributing to price control.

The US chip manufacture Nvidia is planning to build a 200 million USD artificial intelligence (AI) centre in Indonesia as part of its push into Southeast Asia.

A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc and Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Pham Quang Dung attended the 11th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting (11th AFMGM) held in Luang Prabang, Laos, on April 5.

(CPV) - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masatsugu Asakawa stressed the need for proactive fiscal policy to achieve high-quality development in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in his address at the China Development Forum (CDF) in Beijing at the end of March.

(CPV) - The sustainable bond market of member economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Japan, and the Republic of Korea expanded 29.3% last year, outpacing the 21% growth of the global and euro-area sustainable bond markets, according to a new report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

(CPV) - Global television audiences who tune in for their local weather reports today are in for a surprise – a special forecast from the year 2050. While the format is familiar, the forecasts – anchored by children – are not.

Thai marine biologists are making efforts to save the country’s reefs from degradation driven by warming oceans and human activity like tourism.

Malaysia has rejected an offer to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF). The decision was made at a cabinet meeting on March 22.

The Philippines on March 16 set a new Guinness World Record for “largest human lung formation” ahead of World Tuberculosis (TB) Day.

Indonesia continues to push the use of electric vehicles (EVs) with the dream of bluer skies and cleaner air with lower pollution in the country.

Emeritus Professor Hal Hill from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University has affirmed that Australia's future really lies in ASEAN.

Thai Minister of Labour Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has extended a warm welcome to Geraldine Ansart, Chief of Mission in Thailand at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the delegation from IOM to Thailand, as both parties discussed the international migration of workers.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department (IED), in its midterm review of ADB’s Strategy 2030, said the bank needs to further clarify its strategic priorities to remain relevant and responsive to the needs of its developing member countries (DMCs).

The leaders of ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste are descending on Melbourne for a Special Summit to celebrate 50 years since Australia became ASEAN’s first Dialogue Partner in 1974 – an achievement of which Australia is very proud, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski has said in his op-ed on the upcoming big event.

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) yesterday priced a $3.5 billion 5-year global bond, proceeds of which will become part of ADB’s ordinary capital resources.

(CPV) - The Land and Maritime Connectivity Project that is supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is delivering results and is already boosting land and maritime connectivity and strengthening the transport network in Solomon Islands.

(CPV) - European Union (EU) import charges on carbon-intensive products are expected to have a limited impact on climate change and only a modest negative effect on economies in Asia and the Pacific, according to research by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

(CPV) - The impacts of climate change, including slow and sudden onset weather events, are reducing the ability of countries to meet their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to a report released today by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

(CPV) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $23 million loan to enhance access to quality fintech education, research, and innovation at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) in India.

(CPV) - Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Scott Morris joined Samoa’s Finance Minister and ADB Governor Lautimuia Afoa Uelese Vaai today to open the new premises for ADB’s Samoa Pacific Country Office (PCO) in Samoa’s Central Bank.

Thailand exported over 100,000 tonnes of chicken worth over 100 billion THB (2.7 billion USD) last year, making the country the world’s third-largest exporter behind Brazil and the US.

Indonesia is facing a scarcity of premium-grade rice in retail stores as a result of producers pegging rice prices at a high level.

Spending for Valentine’s Day this year in Thailand is expected to increase 5.4% from 2023 to about 2.52 billion THB (70 million USD), according to a recent survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).